Book Review: Forgotten by Cat Patrick

With the intrigue of “Memento” and the romance of “The Time-Traveller’s Wife”, “Forgotten” is the perfect YA novel.

Each night when 16 year-old London Lane goes to sleep, her whole world disappears. In the morning, all that’s left is a note telling her about a day she can’t remember. The whole scenario doesn’t exactly make high school or dating that hot guy whose name she can’t seem to recall any easier. But when London starts experiencing disturbing visions she can’t make sense of, she realizes it’s time to learn a little more about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Part psychological drama, part romance, and part mystery, this thought-provoking novel will inspire readers to consider the what-if’s in their own lives and recognize the power they have to control their destinies

(From Goodreads.com)

Warning: Reading the first page of Forgotten causes you to enter a time slip, where before you know it 3 hours have past and you’ve just read one of the most addictive and original books of your life.

Yes, I am not over exaggerating. I picked up Forgotten one afternoon planning only to read a couple of chapters before getting on with my day. But I found myself physically unable to stop reading. The story wasn’t just good, it was gripping and almost like outside forces had me glued to the pages.

Cat Patrick’s debut novel stands out with its original plot, like nothing I have come across before. 16-year-old London goes to sleep and instantly forgets the day before, but in a bizarre twist of fate can ‘remember’ the future. She manages to get through life in her endearingly haphazard manor by writing important stuff down from the day before and looking to the future to find clues to the people around and their relationship to her. Sounds complicated? Well it is, but the author manages to make a complex situation extremely plausible and for the reader it all makes perfect sense while locked in London Lanes world.

London herself is a very likeable character. Like a broken bird I had the overwhelming feeling of wanting to protect her. This isn’t an action packed adventure and she’s no kick ass heroine, but her quiet determination, confusion and vulnerability meant she crept right under my skin directly to my heart. My favourite part of the book was the fledgling romance between London and the extremely gorgeous Luke. Imagine falling in love every single day with the same person? Cat Patrick perfectly creates that first rush of love and attraction not once but many times over, and boy is Luke a worthwhile candidate! It’s so beautifully romantic and exciting it left me gasping at times.

Forgotten is a stunning mix of romance, psychological thriller, paranormal and mystery. I can understand why the publishers compare it to The Time Travellers Wife in some ways. It has that same unique and achingly romantic quality and crosses between genres so effortlessly it will appeal to many. It’s a rare book which I know I could read over and over again and never tire of and one I’m slightly sorry to have already read as I’ll never get that first time again. A five star book and a new author to watch out for very carefully in the future.

Published June 2011 by Egmont (UK)Thanks to the publishers for providing a copy for review

I loved the story concept. It was a little hard for me to read her writing style but I could not put this book down. London is such a wonderful character and I was so excited to see how her and Luke's relationship would grow. Every night before bed London would write down things she found was important to remember. She can only remember the future and she forgets the past. She can't remember Luke at all and she is afraid he won't be in her future. I thought it was funny how if she didn't want to remember things she wouldn't write it down. The relationship between London and her best friend Jamie kinda bothered me. I feel like Cat should of put more interaction between them. Even tho they were fighting. It shouldn't of been through the whole book.